Ex·er·cise v. t. [imp. & p. p. Exercised p. pr. & vb. n. Exercising ]
 1. To set in action; to cause to act, move, or make exertion; to give employment to; to put in action habitually or constantly; to school or train; to exert repeatedly; to busy.
    Herein do I Exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence.   --Acts xxiv. 16.
 2. To exert for the sake of training or improvement; to practice in order to develop; hence, also, to improve by practice; to discipline, and to use or to for the purpose of training; as, to exercise arms; to exercise one's self in music; to exercise troops.
 About him exercised heroic games
 The unarmed youth.   --Milton.
 3. To occupy the attention and effort of; to task; to tax, especially in a painful or vexatious manner; harass; to vex; to worry or make anxious; to affect; to discipline; as, exercised with pain.
 Where pain of unextinguishable fire
 Must exercise us without hope of end.   --Milton.
 4. To put in practice; to carry out in action; to perform the duties of; to use; to employ; to practice; as, to exercise authority; to exercise an office.
    I am the Lord which exercise loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth.   --Jer. ix. 24.
    The people of the land have used oppression and exercised robbery.   --Ezek. xxii. 29.


 exercising
      n : the activity of exerting your muscles in various ways to
          keep fit; "the doctor recommended regular exercise"; "he
          did some exercising"; "the physical exertion required by
          his work kept him fit" [syn: exercise, {physical
          exercise, physical exertion, workout]